Brides, after you become engaged and before the wedding planning begins
there are three important rules to follow:
-
Develop your
own personal approach.
-
Create a
planning calendar and stick to it.
-
Never panic.
Things always come together.
Everyone’s approach to planning a wedding is different. There really are
no set formulas for weddings. Weddings have standard elements, but that
should be where the similarities end. Your wedding is a once in a lifetime
chance to be different.
At Dunegrass, we’ve compiled the following list of planning guidelines
that will help you get your wedding planning into high gear. We want
your special day to be a unique and enjoyable event. Please don’t hesitate
to call us if we can be of assistance as you plan your celebration
WEDDING
PLANNING
BY THE MONTHS
The following list was compiled by the staff at Dunegrass for the benefit
of brides-to-be and their fiancés. Please feel free to utilize this
timeline as much or as little as necessary. Our goal, whether or not we’re
hosting your rehearsal dinner, reception or family-brunch, is total
satisfaction. Be happy and make the most of every moment of your wedding
planning. It truly will be something that stays with you every day of your
life.
Let’s get started!
Six to twelve
months (and earlier)
Buy a wedding organizer it will save your life! Organizers also make
great keepsakes as they often become beautiful books that are filled with
memories of showers, parties, the big-day, etc. Your organizer will help
you track scheduled appointments, record payments/payables, invitation
responses, gifts, thank-you notes, etc.
-
Announce your
engagement - A nice touch is to write to your close friends and
relatives to let them know. Have an engagement photo taken to submit to
your local newspaper, plus yours and your fiancés hometown newspapers.
You should note that papers have different guidelines about
announcements, so don’t assume you can send your announcements to all
three papers and achieve the same results.
-
Choose your
maid of honor, best man, bridesmaids and ushers.
-
Select a date
– Things to consider are locations, times-of-day, family/wedding party
availability, etc.
-
Start working
on a budget – Be sure to openly discuss how costs will be divided.
-
Map out your
guest list – One approach to selecting a guest list works like this:
Step 1) Combine
all possible guest onto list
Step 2) Create a list of “must-attends” to be invited
Step 3) Create a prioritized list of “would like to attend” to be invited
Step 4) As your budget unfolds and you determine exactly how many guests
you can
accommodate, select guests from your prioritized list.
-
Discuss if
children will be invited to attend the wedding – Note that if you decide
to not allow kids that you could consider arranging for child-care
during the wedding and reception. It is a wonderful gesture that goes a
long way toward keeping everyone happy. If children care is not an
option, be open and honest with your guests about the sometimes touchy
topic of child-free weddings.
-
Select and
reserve a ceremony site and make arrangements with your wedding
officiate.
-
Create a list
of possible reception locations and schedule visits to each site.
Remember that a good way to know if your reception site is everything
management says it is, is to ask for references. Then call them and
politely ask about their experience. If they had a good experience they
will talk your ear off.
-
Choose a
caterer for your reception (Perhaps only needed if the location you pick
does not offer catering.)
-
Pick a
florist.
-
Start
searching for your gown! Remember that the whole package includes
head-piece, shoes & other accessories. Have your seamstress agree to set
schedule for fittings, alterations, etc.
-
Choose a
color scheme for your event. With a set theme you can start searching
for bridesmaid dresses. It is important to remember to talk with your
bridesmaids about their thoughts on a dress. Sometimes it’s best to pick
a color and let the bridesmaids’ select individual styles.
-
Prepare for
your wedding license and honeymoon by finding your passports and birth
certificates.
-
Choose a
photographer/videographer – Ask your friends who they used. A nice
feature for any wedding is an unattended stationary camera that your
guests can use to snap impromptu photos. Ask your photographer if they
can accommodate. Another fun option is to have disposable cameras (with
flash!) at each table.
4 to 6 months
in advance
-
Make
arrangements for music at your ceremony/reception.
-
Order
invitations and any other stationery (i.e. seating cards, directions and
thank-you cards.) And don’t forget to schedule time to address
invitations. Maybe even hire a calligrapher?
-
Plan the
honeymoon – This is sometimes the most enjoyable element of wedding
planning. If you’re thinking about an overseas destination,
immunizations will probably be needed. So add that to your list of
things to do too.
-
Plan the
rehearsal dinner – Remember that this is usually a task planned by the
groom's family. Let them do the work but make certain it is inline with
your planning too.
-
Register for
gifts – A good rule to follow these days is to pick stores that offer
online gift buying.
-
Begin
shopping for wedding gifts – Gifts for each other, your bridal party,
moms and dads, etc.
-
If rental
items are part of your ceremony or reception (i.e. party favors, room
decorations), find local suppliers and reserve your supplies.
-
Make
accommodation arrangements for out-of- town guests – You may want to
reserve a block of rooms at a hotel; the hotel will usually give your
guests a reduced rate.
-
Plan
activities for your out-of-town guests both before and after the
wedding.
2 to 4 months
in advance
-
Select attire
for the men in the wedding party.
-
Purchase
wedding rings – Remember to factor in time for engraving. Remember when
you pick them up to check for fit.
-
Research
legal needs for marriage in your state – You already have your birth
certificates ready, but your state might require blood tests. You
definitely have to go to your city hall and apply.
-
Select bakery
and order wedding cake – Bakers make “taster cakes” for you to
experience their baking expertise. It’s a great way to see and taste
their wares firsthand.
-
Select and
book transportation for wedding day – If alcohol is part of your plans,
think about arranging shuttles to and from the hotel and to local homes.
It’s a pleasure to not have to worry about drinking and driving.
6 to 8 weeks in
advance
-
Mail the
invitations – Include a list of lodging options with maps to assist
guests in finding the ceremony and reception sites.
-
Have a formal
portrait taken in wedding gown for newspaper announcement – Then send a
wedding announcement & photograph to your newspapers.
-
Select a
“going-away” outfit.
-
Schedule the
salon for you and your attendants – Adding hairstylists, professional
makeup, nails and even a massage will make the day more special.
-
Maintain a
record of RSVPs and all gifts received. Try and send thank-you notes
upon receipt of gifts.
-
Select a
guest book attendant – Decide where and when to have guests sign in.
-
Mail
invitations to rehearsal dinner.
-
Plan a
luncheon or dinner with your bridesmaids. Give them their gifts at that
time or at the rehearsal dinner.
-
Locate
"Something old, something new, something borrowed something blue,”
and…as the saying goes, “a six pence for your shoe."
-
Finalize your
menu, beverage and alcohol order. If you have decided upon having
children attend ask for children’s menus and ask if there is a price
difference.
-
Map out
specific photos and video you want to have recorded – For instance,
candid rehearsal dinner shots, getting into the limo, grouped family. If
you take a look at your photos you’ll probably notice that your favorite
shots were captured when you were not posing. Think about that as you
imagine the ways in which you want your wedding memories to be captured.
4 to 6 weeks in
advance
-
Start getting
your papers in order –
-
Confirm that
your wedding license has arrived and all data is accurate.
-
Look at
naming your fiancé as your primary beneficiary in will and life
insurance.
-
Obtain
insurance to cover joint property and assets.
-
Consolidate
your car insurance.
-
Open joint
bank accounts.
-
If you’re
moving, drop by the post office and pick up a change of address kit.
-
Change name &
address on drivers license, social security card, insurance policies,
subscriptions, bank accounts, memberships, etc.
-
Decide on
seating plan for reception.
-
Be sure
attendants are kept informed of rehearsal plans, other commitments they
have.
-
Confirm
ceremony details with your officiant.
-
Finalize
rehearsal dinner plans; arrange seating and write names on place cards,
if desired.
-
Make final
floral selections.
-
Make a
schedule for everyone involved in your event – A written schedule helps
your party, family and vendors know that you’re on top of your planning.
And it does what it’s supposed to do, which is make everyone
accountable.
-
Start packing
for your honeymoon! – Make sure that the fiancé knows what to bring and
what to leave behind.
-
Contact your
“must-attend” guests who haven't responded.
-
Meet with
photographer/videographer and confirm special photos you want.
-
Meet with
musicians and confirm music to be played during special events such as
first dance.
-
Determine
ceremony seating for special guests. Give a list to the ushers.
1-2 weeks in
advance
-
Make final
checks on everything.
-
Send more
thank you cards.
-
Pick up
wedding attire and make sure everything fits.
-
Do final
guest count and notify your caterer or reception site manager.
-
Confirm all
honeymoon reservations and accommodations. Pick up tickets and travelers
checks.
-
Familiarize
yourself with guests' names. It will help during the receiving line and
reception.
-
Have the
newspaper and post office stop your service while you are away on your
honeymoon.
1-3 days in
advance
-
Make sure
everyone arriving from out-of-town is met by someone (if possible), and
knows where everyone else is staying. A nice touch would be to have a
local map ready for guests in order to help them make the most of any
available free time between wedding events.
-
Pack an
"emergency kit" containing things like spare hose, sewing supplies,
aspirin, etc. to take with you to the wedding.
-
Give best man
the officiant's fee and any other checks for service providers. Let him
handle delivering the payments on the day of the wedding.
REHEARSAL DAY
-
Arrange for
someone to bring accessories such as flower basket, ring pillow, guest
book & pen, toasting glasses, cake cutting knife and napkins to the
ceremony and reception.
-
Arrange for
someone to mail announcements the day after the wedding.
-
Arrange for
someone to return rental items after the wedding.
-
Review
ceremony seating with ushers.
WEDDING
DAY
-
Review list
of things to bring to the ceremony.
-
Give the
groom's ring to the maid of honor. Give the bride's ring to the best
man.
-
Give yourself
plenty of time to relax and make sure that you eat and drink enough to
stay energized.
-
Relish your
beauty treatments and don’t rush the hairdresser or beautician. Sit
back, relax and be pampered.
-
Leave the
lipstick until you’re in your dress. Don’t forget the something borrowed
something blue.
-
MOST
IMPORTANT OF ALL -- Take the time to appreciate everything and
everyone around you. You’re the focus of the day, but your fiancé,
family and guests should be the focus of your attention.
Consider Dunegrass for Your
Celebration!
Dunegrass is located at
200 Wild Dunes Way
Old Orchard Beach,
ME
04064
(800) 521-1029, (207) 934-4513
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